Double Standards? (December 3rd, 2011)

Early in the first phase of the project I identified a double standard often applied to those in poverty.  I had discovered that some people believe those in poverty should be sad all the time as opposed to allowing them the full range of experience like everybody else.  In other words, if someone is smiling or laughing then they're not really poor.  (see "Not All Bad . . . Is NOT All Good")  I know . . . it's ridiculous! 

Well, I think I 've stumbled upon another one . . . poor people are supposed to have iron willpower and perfect decision making.  That, too, sounds ridiculous, especially when it's stated like that.  However, how often have we judged someone in poverty because of a decision or purchase they made that we deemed unwise given their financial situation.  Maybe buying cigarettes . . . or treats . . . or drugs or alcohol. Well, if you have ever done that as I admit that I have, then you are applying a double standard.  Unless, of course, you're perfect. 

"I want some, too."

How did this train of thought hit home with me?  Well, after a long week of work, yesterday Mrs. Poverty Guy walked into the house with a bottle of wine.  She had decided that she would enjoy a nice glass as she relaxed last night. None for me though.  Something in me snapped.  I wanted some, too.  I knew that it wasn't the smart thing to do . . . dipping into my precious funds to purchase something purely for my own enjoyment.  I didn't care.  I knew that there may be a time later in the month when I may regret it . . . when I may need that $10 badly.  All I knew was at that moment I was miserable and the gap between what was staring me in the face and what I should do was just too much to take.  I bought a cheap bottle of wine, and nobody has to judge me about it because I judged myself enough for everyone.  Eventually, I recognized the double standard I was applying unfairly to myself and had to lighten up . . . give myself a break.

Rich or poor . . . we are all people with wants, needs, hopes and gifts.  We all have weaknesses and strengths.  We all make mistakes because we're all human.  And real people, just like us, give into temptation or succumb to addiction . . . and that doesn't negate the need for compassion and helping others where we can.

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Phase II - Struggles of the Working Poor Daily Report
Day 32 & Day 33 (December 2^nd – 3^rd)

Weight at Beginning of Project:  233 lbs
Weight at End of Phase One:  216 lbs
Weight at Start of Phase Two: 221 lbs
Weight at Start of Today:  216 lbs

Available Funds:   $39.29 (Leftover) + $8.50 (Dec 2) + $10.00 (Dec 3) = $57.79
Funds Spent Today:  $11.64
Remaining Funds:   $46.15

New Loan:  $0.00
Loan Due Today: $0.00
Loan Payment:   $0.00
Outstanding Loan: $135.00 @ 2% per month (non-compounding) . . . payments due as follows:  $34.38 due Dec 8^th; $34.22 due Dec 15^th; $34.07 due Dec 22^nd; $33.91 due Dec 29^th.

Items Purchased:   Wine

Free Stuff:  Men’s Breakfast, Leftover Beans

Gas Purchased* & Remaining:  $0.00 (i.e. 0.0 litres @ $1.089 per litre . . . 0.0 km @ 10 km/litre) + 5.41 litres (gas remaining) = 5.41 litres (54.1 km)
Driving Today:  16.0 km (i.e. 1.60 litres)
Gas Remaining:  3.81 litres (i.e. 38.1 km)

*Will not include any fuel or driving related to work that is paid for by work.

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Hey!! I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.

Click Here to Sign . . . A Declaration to World Leaders

Click Here to See WACHOOKANDU

Change for a Dollar

I enjoyed this artistically shot and graciously told story of how a single dollar in change changed several people's lives.  As you watch it, you may find yourself questioning whether this could really happen.  I did.  But then I realized focusing on whether or not this actual sequence of events could happen is totally missing the point.  The point is that small, random acts of kindness can come from the most unexpected places, and they can have huge impact in the life of another.  CHANGE . . . for a dollar.

 

If we all did a little something for someone else, the world would be quite a different and enlightened place.  Of course, the only way to get to that destination is to start down the path ourselves.  Others will follow.  Notice the little things, do what you can, and bit by bit the world becomes kinder and gentler.


Hey!! I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.

Click Here to Sign . . . A Declaration to World Leaders

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Elvis Had Pancake Mix!

When someone was obviously tuned into what was going on, my son used to say, "Oh yeah!  You've got pancake mix!"  Of course, if someone was deemed clueless by my young offspring he'd remark, "You don't have pancake mix!"  Random, but fun.

It's funny what sticks in your head.  While my son no longer partakes in this particular running commentary about the people around him, I still find myself doing it in my head.  So when I saw the attached video featuring Elvis singing "In The Ghetto" that's what popped into my head . . . "Elvis, you got pancake mix!"

The powerful thing about this video, beyond Elvis' timeless voice, is that it simply shows the words to the song.  These haunting lyrics really speak to the reality of far too many living impoverished in slums, and challenges us to do something about it.

Hey!! I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.

Click Here to Sign . . . A Declaration to World Leaders

Click Here to See WACHOOKANDU

Gone Shoppin'! (December 1, 2011)

Today I experienced one of those moments in life where you know that things just got a whole lot better.

In this phase of the project I've been living on the limited budget that someone working for minimum wage has after covering housing and insurance costs BUT receiving that budget in bits everyday like one  in the developing world who earns money daily in the marketplace.  For the last month, therefore, I've had to try and meet my needs with this small money at a time, and eventually had to resort to a moneylender who charges through the nose.  However, for this next month of this phase, I have access to a loan akin to the micro-finance loans given in the developing world to help people break out of the poverty cycle. What a difference it has made already!!

Rather than buying bits and pieces from the grocery store that would last me a day or two, or maybe a week, I was able to think in terms of the entire month.  Further, because the loan was sufficient to cover my needs for an extended period, I am not at all living at the mercy of the daily ebbs and flows of the small dollar amounts coming in . . . provided I manage my money well and nothing big unexpected happens.  In my Daily Report below, you will see the haul of things that I was able to buy.  If I wasn't already a huge proponent of micro-finance loans and how they can literally lift someone out of poverty, then after today I certainly would be.

Now I don't want to leave the impression that there wasn't any difficulties or disappointments today.  Even though I felt like I was rolling in cash since I had $70 - $80 to spend, I still had to make a lot of hard decisions.  My meals will be fairly similar to what I have been eating . . . porridge and an apple for breakfast, noodle soup and a banana for lunch, some meat with a potato and a small salad for dinner.  And, like before I will change things up a bit and have eggs on toast from time to time, and the occasional pasta and spaghetti sauce.  However, as I went up and down the aisles it was reinforced over and over again that there was still way more that I could not afford than what I could.  While my options are still limited, thankfully I won't have to shop near as much nor be as stressed by worrying about how my cash flow will affect my food flow.

Before signing off for the day, there are a few things of note that I want to highlight:

• Treats.  I was able to afford a few special things . . . some of which I have not bought before and others which I have enjoyed before but not able to buy all at the same time.  For the first time I have tea!  And not just one kind of tea, but two!! (I love buy one, get one free.)  Further, I have peanuts and cheese slices for snacking, and a few Ju Jubes for a small after dinner sweet.  Is that culture or what?!?
  
• Growing green onions.  I'm going to take the advice I received from one of you that suggested I buy green onions and put them in water.  The idea being that I can snip off the green portions as I need them, and then they will grow back.  Just call me That Farmer Poverty Guy.
  
• Holy Christmas Basket Batman!  I was gifted with a basket containing the makings of a Christmas dinner.  While it was always planned that my family would have dinner on Christmas like one would if receiving a hamper, I had expected that we would have to purchase it so as to not deprive another family in need.  As it turns out, this wonderful gift nicely fills that need and no one is deprived of it.  Perfect!

Yup . . . things are looking up!

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Phase II - Struggles of the Working Poor Daily Report
Day 31 (December 1^st)

Weight at Beginning of Project:  233 lbs
Weight at End of Phase One:  216 lbs
Weight at Start of Phase Two: 221 lbs
Weight at Start of Today:  216 lbs

Available Funds:   $135.00 (New Microfinance Loan) + $6.50 (Dec 1) = $141.50
Funds Spent Today:  $102.21 (Purchases & Old Loan Payment)
Remaining Funds:   $39.29

New Loan:  $135.00
Loan Due Today: $15.56 (Old Loan)
Loan Payment:   $15.56 (retired Old Loan in full)
Outstanding Loan: $135.00 @ 2% per month (non-compounding) . . . payments due as follows:  $34.38 due Dec 8^th; $34.22 due Dec 15^th; $34.07 due Dec 22^nd; $33.91 due Dec 29^th.

Items Purchased:   $6 Gas, 900g Bag of Rotini, 5 lb Bag of Potatoes, Lettuce, Ranch Dressing, 1 kg Bag of Quick Oats, 24 Noodle Soups, 630 mL Jar of Spaghetti Sauce, 2 Boxes of Tea (buy one, get one free!!), Dozen Eggs, Cheese Slices – 48 Thin, Loaf of Bread, 12-Pack of Hotdogs, 4 Hotdog Buns, 12-Pack of Breakfast Sausages (i.e. meat for 3 Dinners), Pork Loin Chops (discount bin . . . meat for 2 Dinners), 2 Warehouse Packs of Chicken Backs & Legs (buy one, get one free!! . . . meat for 10 Dinners), 5 Bananas, 5 Apples, Green Onions, 7 Sm. Roma Tomatoes, 260 g Bulk Red Skin Peanuts (for snacking), 175 g Ju Jubes (little after dinner treats)

Free Stuff:  Sm. Hot Chocolate (bought by friend whom I met for “coffee”); Poutine (being served at a birthday celebration I encountered); Christmas Hamper (containing fixings for a Christmas dinner!!!!)

Gas Purchased* & Remaining:  $6.00 (i.e. 5.51 litres @ $1.089 per litre . . . 55.1 km @ 10 km/litre) + 1.73 litres (gas remaining) = 7.24 litres (72.4 km)
Driving Today:  18.3 km (i.e. 1.83 litres)
Gas Remaining:  5.41 litres (i.e. 54.1 km)

*Will not include any fuel or driving related to work that is paid for by work.

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Hey!! I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.

Click Here to Sign . . . A Declaration to World Leaders

Click Here to See WACHOOKANDU

The Formula to Eradicate Poverty

I was so tempted to call it the SECRET formula to eradicate poverty.  Secrets are intriguing.  Secrets sell.  However, secrets can also be terribly disappointing as our imaginations start to conjure up things more magical and complex than they actually are.

Take the "Caramilk Secret" for example.  It's intriguing to think that Cadbury has a room full of rocket scientists who have denied the laws of nature to get the caramel into the bar.  Or, that they stumbled upon a stash of notes left by the aliens who built the pyramids.  To find out that it's a simple process of pouring the tops of the bars, flipping them over to be filled with dollops of caramel, and then covered with a layer of chocolate is . . . well . . . disappointing.  Sorry, I should have said "Spoiler Alert".

Similarly, the best-selling book called "The Secret" is so attractive to those who want change in their lives.  People are looking for a magical incantation that they can say and "POOF" their life will be different.  However, the power of positive thinking and envisioning results has been a mainstay in the world of psychology, motivational speaking, professional sports, business and many other arenas for quite some time.  To find out that "the secret" is something you already knew at some level is . . . well . . . a letdown.  Once again, sorry if I burst anyone's bubble.

I believe that poverty eradication is simple, and it is something that we already know intuitively.  There's no magic, no undue complexity, no alien wisdom . . . and it's certainly not rocket science.  For these reasons, it's integral that I do not describe the formula as secret.  In fact, far from being secret, I yearn for this formula to be shouted from mountain tops and taught to children in school.

"Oh, for crying out loud . . . WHAT is the formula to eradicate poverty???"  Thanks for asking! I wasn't sure how much longer I could drag it out.  The formula for eradication of poverty is . . .

We must open our eyes to see what is there. 

Then, open our hearts to show that we care.

That's it.  If you, me, the guy crossing the street, the woman wiping her child's nose, all of our family, friends, co-workers, and leaders applied this simple formula to our lives, work, and society there would be no poverty.  Done.  Kaput.  Finito.

Everything else - the details, logistics, planning, etc. - falls into place once we apply the formula.  Our priorities change.  Where we spend our time and money changes.  So much changes for the better once we've seen the need around us and have decided to do something compassionate about it . . . especially for those living in need.

The reason there is poverty is not because of lack of resources . . . we live in an abundant world.  The reason there is poverty is not because of lack of know how . . . we have the technology and smarts to change this world for the better many times over.  The reason there is poverty is not because of lack of hard work amongst the poor or economic hard times . . . these are fallacies or excuses that rationalize inaction on our parts.  The reason there is poverty IS because we close our eyes to that which we do not want to see, and we have not made poverty eradication a priority.  The reason there is poverty IS because we have not applied the formula to the extent that we can, or the extent that we should.

Each one of us acting on our own will do some good for others, and that is certainly to be encouraged.  However, to truly bring about sustainable change in the lives of billions of people and eradicate poverty, we must act together.  This means deciding collectively to make poverty eradication a priority . . . collectively opening our eyes and collectively caring.  This means applying as much energy as possible to spreading the word and encouraging the development of coordinated, integrated, non-partisan, and all-encompassing poverty elimination strategies.  Be open to it . . . talk about it . . . support it whenever you get the opportunity.

And finally, a word of comfort . . . we need not fear that eradicating poverty will somehow adversely affect our own lifestyle.  Eradication of poverty may involve a little more sharing of the proverbial pie, but mostly it is about using the pie a little differently and making the pie larger.  In other words, you don't need to give up your slice of the pie in order for others to have pie, too.

Don't keep it a secret!

Hey!! I'm That Poverty Guy . . . let's make a world of difference together.

Click Here to Sign . . . A Declaration to World Leaders

Click Here to See WACHOOKANDU